beef grist 2014 - fall

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VOL 2 ISSUE 1 | FALL 2014 A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER PRODUCED BY GRAND VALLEY FORTIFIERS LTD. Beef G rist Beef G rist Jim Ross, Chairman O n a recent trip to British Columbia I had the pleasure to visit Don and Leslie Richardson at their home in Tlell BC, on Haida Gwaii or more commonly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida Gwaii is located north of Vancouver Island about 350 km and 150 km west of the main land. The Richardson Ranch is home to Tlell Polled Herefords as well as a veterinary hospital, dog kennel and feed store that serve the approximate 4000 people who live on the island and those who vacation there. Don’s family has raised cattle for several generations on the island after purchasing the ranch in the early 1900’s. Don is the 5th generation and his children Jamie and Dane will be the 6th generation to operate the ranch. For more history visit their website www.richardsonranch.ca . At one time the ranch supported over 100 cows, today the Richardson’s calve about 30 purebred polled Hereford cows annually. Raising cattle on the Island does come with its share of challenges which I thought would be of interest to highlight for those of us who think we have challenges raising cattle where we call home. Getting to the Richardson Ranch is a little more challenging than most farm tours I’ve been on. Once a day air service takes you into Masset or Sandspit airports and Ferry service is available several times a week to Prince Rupert. For the Richardson’s and their pick-up truck and 20 foot stock trailer, ferry fees are around $1400 for the 7-8 hour ferry ride to the mainland. Every trip is well planned out taking cattle to the mainland to be sold, shown or delivered to an abattoir another 12 hours’ drive inland. The trailer always comes back to the island packed with supplies; whether its fence posts, hay bales or Costco purchases. Cattle have been marketed at The Vanderhoof bull sale for 27 years, the Williams Lake bull sale, or as freezer beef through their on farm store. Through the extensive use of their website and social media, from September 18th - 21st 2014 they will host their 5th online production sale, a format that lets them showcase their genetics to the world without some of the costs of running a traditional production sale. Despite living in a remote area, with few if any potential customers visiting their operation annually, the Richardson family markets their program more effectively than many farms on the mainland. The moderate climate on the island has its challenges as well and although it never gets as cold as other parts of Canada it is a very wet climate. Tlell is within a“rain shield”on the island and has an average annual precipitation of around 45 inches. Making dry hay in this environment is impossible! Don does spend part of the summer making grass silage with a flail chopper pull type harvestor. “My rule is the grass has to be dry enough to walk through before I begin to make silage” With rain, fog and heavy dew, not every day is suited for making stored feed. Cattle must also adjust to the environment and only those who continue to eat will consume enough dry matter to thrive on the ranch. The cattle are noticeably impressive in their rib shape and volume as they consume large volumes of feed regularly. In addition to grass some oat/pea mixtures are also used with new seeding. Some dry hay and straw are purchased on the main land and brought to the island to supplement the herd as well as to be sold at their feed store. With freight having the greatest effect on cost, ($0.12-$0.14 per pound) Don sells small square bales of hay for $22 and straw for $21. Also of interest is how the Richardson family farms with the presence of the tide. Being so close to the ocean and the Tlell river that flows through the property, the rise and fall of the tide both daily and monthly affects their routine. “We have to adjust pasture rotation around the high tide” Don explained. The view from their porch looking over their pasture fields and river is breath taking, and it’s hard to imagine at times the pasture is completely under water. During those times the catttle are pastured on higher ground next to the ocean water in the Hecate Strait. Once water levels recede and pastures can be fertilized the cattle return to the lower pastures. Living on the Island with its beautiful scenery and views of the ocean may seem dreamy but living with salt water and its ability to make things rust prematurely can prove very challenging. Every year Don takes down some of the barbwire fence and soaks it in oil over the winter, trying to preserve it. Don told me that as a child, he remembers they would dip Dear Friends, It’s a sure sign that summer is soon coming to an end when the wind begins to blow through the stubble of our harvested grain fields. As the harvest of grains comes to a close and we look forward to the fall harvest, the cool, wet season does pose some challenges and no doubt there will be variability across the province. . With all that is taking place around the world, (floods, fires, tornados, droughts and threatening wars) we can be thankful to live in our beautiful and bountiful province of Ontario. This fall issue of the Grand Valley Beef Grist is chucked full of information which we believe will be appreciated by many readers. I hope you enjoy and good farming to you all. I look forward to seeing many of you at Canada’s Outdoor Farm show in September. Sincerely, Jim Ross GRAND VALLEY FORTIFIERS LTD. PO Box 726 Cambridge ON N1R 5W6 1-800-567-4400 www.grandvalley.com Ian Ross, President | Jim Ross, Chairman Clarke Walker, VP & COO Mark Bowman/Jeff Keunen, Ruminant Nutritionist David Ross/Dan Goertz, Publishers TALES OF TLELL - A Visit to Canada’s Most Western Ranch by: JAMIE O’SHEA Beef Specialist, Grand Valley Fortifiers [email protected] | 519-588-2241

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Tales of Tlell • Optimizing the Net Energy Yield of Your Corn Silage

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Page 1: Beef Grist 2014 - Fall

VOL 2 ISSUE 1 | FA L L 2014

A P E R I O D I C N E W S L E T T E R P R O D U C E D B Y G R A N D V A L L E Y F O R T I F I E R S L T D .

Beef GristBeef Grist

Jim Ross, Chairman

On a recent trip to British Columbia I had the pleasure to visit Don and Leslie Richardson at their home in Tlell BC, on Haida Gwaii or more

commonly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida Gwaii is located north of Vancouver Island about 350 km and 150 km west of the main land. The Richardson Ranch is home to Tlell Polled Herefords as well as a veterinary hospital, dog kennel and feed store that serve the approximate 4000 people who live on the island and those who vacation there. Don’s family has raised cattle for several generations on the island after purchasing the ranch in the early 1900’s. Don is the 5th generation and his children Jamie and Dane will be the 6th generation to operate the ranch. For more history visit their website www.richardsonranch.ca . At one time the ranch supported over 100 cows, today the Richardson’s calve about 30 purebred polled Hereford cows annually. Raising cattle on the Island does come with its share of challenges which I thought would be of interest to highlight for those of us who think we have challenges raising cattle where we call home. Getting to the Richardson Ranch is a little more challenging than most farm tours I’ve been on. Once a day air service takes you into Masset or Sandspit airports and Ferry service is available several times a week to Prince Rupert. For the Richardson’s and their pick-up truck and 20 foot stock trailer, ferry fees are around $1400 for the 7-8 hour ferry ride to the mainland. Every trip is well planned out taking cattle to the mainland to be sold, shown or delivered to an abattoir another 12 hours’ drive inland. The trailer always comes back to the island packed with supplies; whether its fence posts, hay bales or Costco purchases. Cattle have been marketed at The Vanderhoof bull sale for 27 years, the Williams Lake bull sale, or as freezer beef through their on farm store. Through the extensive use of their website and social media, from September 18th - 21st 2014 they will host their 5th online production sale, a format that lets them showcase their genetics to the world without some of the costs of running a traditional production sale. Despite living in a remote area, with few if any potential customers visiting their operation annually, the Richardson family markets their program more effectively than many farms on the mainland. The moderate climate on the island has its challenges as well and although it never gets as cold as other parts of

Canada it is a very wet climate. Tlell is within a “rain shield” on the island and has an average annual precipitation of around 45 inches. Making dry hay in this environment is impossible! Don does spend part of the summer making grass silage with a flail chopper pull type harvestor. “My rule is the grass has to be dry enough to walk through before I begin to make silage” With rain, fog and heavy dew, not every day is suited for making stored feed. Cattle must also adjust to the environment and only those who continue to eat will consume enough dry matter to thrive on the ranch. The cattle are noticeably impressive in their rib shape and volume as they consume large volumes of feed regularly. In addition to grass some oat/pea mixtures are also used with new seeding. Some dry hay and straw are purchased on the main land and brought to the island to supplement the herd as well as to be sold at their feed store. With freight having the greatest effect on cost, ($0.12-$0.14 per pound) Don sells small square bales of hay for $22 and straw for $21. Also of interest is how the Richardson family farms with the presence of the tide. Being so close to the ocean and the Tlell river that flows through the property, the rise and fall of the tide both daily and monthly affects their routine. “We have to adjust pasture rotation around the high tide” Don explained. The view from their porch looking over their pasture fields and river is breath taking, and it’s hard to imagine at times the pasture is completely under water. During those times the catttle are pastured on higher ground next to the ocean water in the Hecate Strait. Once water levels recede and pastures can be fertilized the cattle return to the lower pastures. Living on the Island with its beautiful scenery and views of the ocean may seem dreamy but living with salt water and its ability to make things rust prematurely can prove very challenging. Every year Don takes down some of the barbwire fence and soaks it in oil over the winter, trying to preserve it. Don told me that as a child, he remembers they would dip

Dear Friends,

It’s a sure sign that summer is soon coming to an end when the wind begins to blow through the stubble of our harvested grain fields. As the harvest of grains comes to a close and we look forward to the fall harvest, the cool, wet season does pose some challenges and no doubt there will be variability across the province. .

With all that is taking place around the world, (floods, fires, tornados, droughts and threatening wars) we can be thankful to live in our beautiful and bountiful province of Ontario. This fall issue of the Grand Valley Beef Grist is chucked full of information which we believe will be appreciated by many readers. I hope you enjoy and good farming to you all. I look forward to seeing many of you at Canada’s Outdoor Farm show in September.

Sincerely, Jim Ross

GRAND VALLEY FORTIFIERS LTD.PO Box 726 Cambridge ON N1R 5W6 1-800-567-4400 www.grandvalley.com

Ian Ross, President | Jim Ross, ChairmanClarke Walker, VP & COO Mark Bowman/Jeff Keunen, Ruminant NutritionistDavid Ross/Dan Goertz, Publishers

TALES OF TLELL - A Visit to Canada’s Most Western Ranchby: JAMIE O’SHEABeef Specialist, Grand Valley [email protected] | 519-588-2241

Page 2: Beef Grist 2014 - Fall

While corn silage is primarily thought of as a “forage” or “roughage” source it is actually one of the most valuable energy feedstuff for beef

producers. Corn silage provides the greatest potential net energy yield per acre than any other crop we raise. However; the net energy yield of corn silage can vary significantly depending on a number factors including; hybrid selection, planting density, growing conditions, harvest maturity, cutting height, kernel processing and storage and feed-out losses. Influence of Hybrid SelectionThe primary hybrid factors that will influence corn silage energy yield are the relative maturity (CRM), the plant height and the grain to stover ratio. In general, fuller season hybrids tend to produce higher tonnage but also tend to have lower net energy content or Beef per ton. Likewise, taller hybrids tend to have higher tonnage but lower energy values due primarily to lower grain to stover ratios. Grain to stover ratio in corn silage can range can from 30:70 to 60:40 on a DM basis. Influence of Planting RateIncreasing planting rate will generally increase silage tonnage but will may result in lower quality. The reduction in quality is primarily attributed to a lower grain to stover ratio due to less ear flex, taller plants and increase percent of stalk rind. Effect of Harvest Maturity on Yield, Nutrient Content and DigestibilityPerhaps the factor that has the largest influence on corn silage yield and energy content is the maturity at harvest. As the plant matures, moisture content declines and starch content increases approximately 1% unit per day from 1/3 milk-line to black layer. Inversely, the percent NDF will decrease with increasing maturity. Once the kernels have reached the black layer starch accumulation will cease and the kernels will start to harden. While starch content increases with advancing maturity, starch digestibility declines rapidly once the whole plant DM increases above 35%. Research from the University of Wisconsin suggests that starch digestion can drop by as much as 20 percentage units between 30-40% dry matter for unprocessed corn silage. Fiber (NDF) digestion also declines with increasing maturity but to a much lesser extent that starch digestion. Kernel processing will significantly improve starch digestion for corn silage harvested past 1/3 milk line and is highly recommended to maximize net energy yield. Pioneer research suggests optimal net energy yield is achieved at 34% dry matter for unprocessed corn silage and at 37% for processed corn silage. Optimizing Kernel ProcessingThe effectiveness of kernel processing can vary dramatically and is primarily influenced by the gap setting of the rolls. Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin Ag engineer, has determined that at a gap setting of 1 mm 100% of the kernels will be damaged. At a setting of 3 mm he suggests that 95% of the kernels will be damaged and if set a 5 mm only 88% of the kernels will be damaged. Besides increasing the digestibility of the grain, kernel processing also breaks up cob pieces, making them easier to digest and preventing separation in the feed bunk. It also damages stalk pieces, perhaps making them more digestible. He makes the following recommendation to optimize both kernel processing and harvester efficiency.

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/grandvalleyfortifiers @grandvalley /gvftv

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes the grass grow on the hills.He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse nor his delight in the legs of a man;The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147: 7-11

Effect of Storage Management and InoculationDoing all the right things at harvest doesn’t necessarily guarantee the production of the highest quality silage. Fermentation and feed-out losses that occur during storage can significantly lower the net energy value of the silage. Storage losses can exceed 20% in poorly managed bunker silos and the nutrients that are lost are the most digestible nutrients in the crop having an energy value similar to corn grain. Proper storage management recommendations to minimize storage and feed-out losses include:

• Proper compaction to exclude air• Covering with plastic held securely in place with tires or weights• Keeping the face clean and loose material on the silo floor cleaned up.• Inoculating with a research proven forage additive.

University research has shown that inoculation with a good inoculant will typically reduce DM losses by 25-30% in well managed silage and improve the feeding value by 5-10%. Bottom-lineOptimizing the net energy yield of corn silage starts with selecting corn hybrids that have the potential for high tonnage, high starch yield and good fiber digestion. Pioneer and university data suggest that the optimal harvest maturity for maximizing both yield and the net energy value of whole plant corn silage is between 1/2-3/4 milk-line. The moisture content of the silage will typically be between 63-66% at this stage. Kernel processing is highly recommended and is more important as the corn matures. Pioneer research suggest that optimal yield of net energy is achieved at 37% dry matter provided that the silage is adequately processed. If the corn cannot be processed then the optimal energy yield is obtained at 34% dry matter. Utilizing proper storage management techniques and inoculating with a research proven forage additive can minimize energy losses during storage and optimize the net energy yield of corn silage. n

OPTIMIZING THE NET ENERGY YIELD OF YOUR CORN SILAGEby: RICK WEBER & STEVE SODERLAND, Dupont PioneerUsed with permission.

their shovel and fork in oil before hanging it up. On the island everything made of steel has a shorter life expectancy then it would anywhere else. The opportunity to visit the Richardson family is a trip I will long remember, the views, the history of the island, the fresh seafood dinners, and of course some very fine cattle made for a memorable visit with people I’m honored to call my friends. Should you ever wish to travel to beautiful BC may I recommend you consider a trip to the Richardson ranch and stay in one of their guest houses, you will be glad you did! Make sure to visit their website www.richardsonranch.ca which is updated regularly for more details. n

Your direct source to agricultural commodities.Commodities and byproducts • Truckload quantities

1-877-743-4412

Thought for the Day

As calves get older and pasture conditions dwindle, use Grand Valley Fortifiers’ Classic Beef Creep Feed pellets to ensure growth in your calves, and ease the transition into weaning while adding value and profitability to your operation.

Call me at 519-588-2241 for more details!

CONGRATULATIONS!To the following winners of the GreatOutdoors Giveaway early bird prizes!

Grand Prize deadline:September 18th.Full contest details and your chance to win at grandvalley.com/giveaway.

MURRAY BUIS - HCC Speed River 15’11” canoeGERALD KODDE - Devinci Jack SX mountain bike

ALEX BRISCOE - Shimano �shing bundle

Arctic Cat 550 Camo